Many adults swear by chiropractic care as an effective treatment for everything from back pain to allergies, but did you know that kids can benefit too? Here are five ways that chiropractic adjustment can improve your child’s health:
1. Corrects Posture
Your child is growing fast, and growing spines need help staying in alignment. Misalignments in the spine, what chiropractors call subluxations, can cause a variety of problems. Poor posture, back pain, and even asthma and stomach troubles can all be caused by subluxations.
Posture correction is crucial for school-aged children who may spend much of their day hunched over a desk or carrying a backpack. A chiropractor can undo the damage that bad posture may have caused and help teach your child how to use better posture. When a child’s spine is out of alignment, it will be more difficult for them to keep a healthy posture. This leads to more subluxations, in a vicious cycle. Regular chiropractic care can put an end to that cycle and make it easier for your child to be active and pain-free. Chiropractors can also screen for scoliosis and other childhood orthopedic issues and recommend treatment.
2. Improves Chronic Conditions
Chiropractors are often thought of as practitioners who heal the musculoskeletal system, but chiropractic adjustment also aims to balance the nervous system. Your spinal cord runs through your vertebrae. All the nerves that control your other organs and nerve signals that control immunity, growth, and other processes originate there. Misalignments in the spine, therefore, harm the nervous system and can cause problems throughout the body.
Ear infections are a good example of this. Chronic ear infections happen when the Eustachian tubes that lead from the ear to the throat are not draining properly. The buildup of fluid attracts bacteria, and infection sets in. Nerves in the neck help to control the function of the Eustachian tubes. A subluxation in this area can cause dysfunction in the ear canal, leading to chronic ear infections. According to one study, 95% of children with ear infections saw improvement in pain and other symptoms after being adjusted. Since the inner ear also affects balance, adjustments to correct ear infections can also improve balance and prevent falls.
Several studies have found that children (and adults) with asthma often have subluxations in the middle (thoracic) spine. Regular adjustment to correct these subluxations can lead to significant improvement of asthma symptoms.
There have been many reports from parents who have noticed that their child’s ADHD symptoms have been reduced or disappeared after chiropractic treatment. Researchers aren’t sure why this happens, but it may be because of the corrective effect of chiropractic treatment on the nervous system.
3. Boosts Immunity
Your body’s immune system is a complex response that interlinks with many systems, including the nervous system. A healthy nervous system can improve immunity. Studies have shown that both adults and children who receive regular chiropractic care have increased immune system functionality. This not only results in fewer infections it also leads to fewer autoimmune issues, such as allergies. Children who receive chiropractic care miss fewer days of school due to illness and have better overall health than children who don’t.
Chiropractic care also improves immunity by helping to improve digestive health. Nerves from the spinal cord that control gut motility and function can be impaired by subluxation. Problems with gut motility have a negative effect on your gut’s microbiome– the “good” bacteria that play a role in immunity and overall health. Chiropractic care can prevent and improve problems with the gut that may affect the immune system. This can also benefit children who are suffering from food allergies or sensitivities or IBS-like symptoms.
4. Supports Healthy Development
Micro-traumas from the birthing process, falls, and other accidents that build up over the years can have far-reaching consequences on your child’s health. The symptoms of these subluxations can range from sleep problems to trouble focusing in school. Neurological development can be supported by regular chiropractic care.
Adjustments can fix damage caused by traumatic birth experiences and other early childhood incidents, freeing the nervous system to function optimally. Regular chiropractic care has been associated with improved behavior and focus in children, and improvements in childhood anxiety and depression symptoms.
Spinal subluxations can sometimes cause sleep problems in children that can be frustrating for the child and their parents. Adequate sleep is vital to a child’s brain development and overall health. Adjustments can improve your child’s sleep, leading to a better quality of life for your whole family.
5. Treats Colic and Other Conditions in Newborns
Newborns come with their own set of health challenges that can be exhausting and emotionally difficult for parents, who often feel helpless. The good news is that chiropractic care is a safe and effective treatment for common newborn problems like colic, trouble nursing, and acid reflux. Several studies have shown that chiropractic care is an effective treatment for colic in newborns. 94% of infants showed improvement in symptoms after chiropractic adjustment.
Sometimes infants have trouble latching on to the breast to nurse. This can be caused by stiffness in the back and neck, and is more common in cases where forceps were used or where the baby was in distress. These injuries can take a few days or weeks to start causing problems, leaving parents baffled when their infant suddenly won’t nurse. Studies have shown that chiropractic care can gently and safely correct these spinal problems and improve nursing behavior.
Even apparently healthy infants can benefit from spinal adjustment. Many children are born with minor subluxations that can get worse as they get older. Ensuring a healthy spine throughout a child’s early years can have a positive effect on growth and development.
A Whole Body Approach to Health
At Allstar Chiropractic, we believe in a holistic approach to health and wellness. When combined with exercise and a healthy diet, chiropractic adjustment can aid your child’s development and improve their health. Our chiropractors use gentle, safe adjustment techniques to correct subluxations in infants and children. We also provide nutritional counseling and lifestyle advice. Visit our clinics in Florence and Independence, KY, to find out how chiropractic care can benefit your whole family.